Tree Removal / Habitat / Environmental Compliance

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We encourage the removal of exotic invasive trees. No permit is needed.

Brazilian Pepper Tree

Chinese Tallow Tree

Meleleuca, Punk Tree

Silt Fencing - Wrong

Silt Fencing - Correct

Service Area: Unincorporated Pinellas County -
also includes ... Belleair Bluffs, Belleair Shore,
Indian Shores and Redington Shores

 

Pinellas County Municode: Chapter 166 -

Environmental and Natural Resource Protection

Trees and native vegetative communities provide and maintain beneficial public resources and protection of such vegetation is important. It is vital to perpetuate adequate tree numbers, preserve native vegetative communities, require replanting of vegetation, require landscaping of vehicular use areas, manage undesirable plant material, protect and preserve wildlife and its habitat and provide a tree bank fund for furthering this intent.

 

For questions, call the tree line:
(727) 464-3480 or email.

Permits for Tree Removal:

• FAQ
• Removal of trees on private property:
  • Permits for new construction:
    • Single family homes
    • Multi–family homes
    • Commercial sites
  • Permits for existing structures:
    • Single family homes
• Removal of trees from public right-of-way:
  Sec. 166-54 - No trees shall be removed from a public right-of-way under the management of the county administrator without a valid permit or the county administrator's authorization. (roads, easements, parks, etc.)

Exotic tree removal:

Sec. 166-53 - Undesirable plant species.

• Exotic invasive trees do not need a permit to be cut down, examples include; Brazilian Pepper, Chinese Tallow and Meleleuca / Punk tree.

Landscaping Options:

• Approved tree species to replant:
  • Commercial
  • Residential
• Sec. 166-55 - Minimum landscape requirements for vehicular use areas.
• Sec. 166-56 - Vegetation installation and maintenance
• Sec. 166-57 - Tree bank fund
• Florida Friendly Landscaping

Mangrove Trmiming:

• Special permission needed to trim:
  
• Sec. 166-96 - Mangrove Trimming website -
  
• To trim mangroves in Pinellas County, you must either qualify for one of the exemptions in the code or obtain a permit.

Habitat Codes:

• Protection:

  • Sec. 166-49 - Vegetation protection during construction

    • Trees are protected once they reach a 4" diameter. Cabbage palm (State Tree) is also protected, but other palms are exempt.
  • Sec. 166-50 - Upland Buffer adjacent to wetlands
  • Sec. 166-51 - Upland preservation areas
  • Sec. 166-52 - Protection of endangered, threatened, or species of special concern
• Habitat Management:
  • Article II - Habitat Management & Landscaping
  • Article III - Management and Storage of Surface Waters
  • Sec. 166-1 - Water preservation in new developments
    • Irrigation means water used for the purpose of maintaining landscaped material such as grass, trees, shrubs and other flora.
    • New development means any change to the existing state of land development on any given parcel.
      

Additional Resources:

• Pinellas County Urban Forestry - Pinellas County Urban Forestry staff work collaboratively with multiple departments and programs within the County and organizations in the community.
• National Arbor Day Foundation - Species Identification
• Florida Division of Forestry County Foresters

 

 

 

 

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